5″x7″ ink and watercolor paint on illustration board
Alright, we are cruising on down the road to the finish line of the 30 paintings in 30 Days challenge. I started the challenge with maybe 6 paintings started or finished and I thought that I would have no problem staying ahead. Well, at day 21 I’m starting to struggle with keeping up. All of these pictures this month have taken 2 or more days to complete and I didn’t really expect that. These last 9 days may turn out a bit stressful. Today we have one of my very favorite characters, Indiana Jones. This is from the opening scene of Raiders of the Lost Ark.
5″x7″ ink and watercolor painting on illustration board
Here is a version of Adam West as Batman from the Batman tv show. I’ve always prefered Batman in the grey and blue costume, even if Adam West isn’t always my favorite version of Batman.
6″x6″ ink, acrylic ink and watercolor paint on illustration board
Today’s painting is of my favorite horror actor, Vincent Price. I think what I like most about him is that he can flip the switch from a normal, kind man to someone who is just out for blood and it is very believable. His career was long with tons of movies that he stared in. Some of my favorites are the Edgar Allan Poe films that he did with director Roger Corman. Another favorite of mine is, House on Haunted Hill.
6″x6″ ink and watercolor paint on illustration board
Here is a little smile for making it halfway through the 30 paintings in 30 days.
Here is one version of the Clown Prince of Crime, the Joker, as portrayed by Heath Ledger in the Dark Knight. Not only is the look very disturbing but his performance was one of the best ever. Ledger certainly stole the movie with his portrayal. But, a part of me certainly misses the funnier version of the Joker. Like Cesar Romero in the Batman 1960’s television show or how he was in the comics in the 70’s. Once the 1980’s came around the comics changed him from a guy trying to steal money and small crimes to beating Robin to death with a baseball bat. Goodbye to the classic version of the Joker. Don’t get me wrong, the comics have done some great stuff with him but they have certainly pushed him into some very uncomfortable places for us to witness. And the Dark Knight movie definitely showcased that newer version of the character.
This day’s painting also gave me a chance to work more with ink pens and do more of a comic book art style. That is more like the style that I’m more comfortable with. I really enjoy painting but I don’t feel comfortable with it. Which is the perfect reason to keep on with it. And keep on I shall…
6″x6″ ink and watercolor paint on illustration board
Day 14 is brought to us by the wonderful film from director Tim Burton, Edward Scissorhands. For this painting I went back to some of my favorite mediums, ink and watercolor paint. I feel most comfortable using ink in liquid form or markers/pens. I’ve been staying away from it for most of this challenge because I was thinking that people would rather see more “fine art” painting style. And ink, to me, is more of an illustration medium. This challenge might not be making me a noticeably better artist but it is seriously making me doubt my ideas about what and where I should be going with my art and technique.
9″x12″ colored pencil, ink, acrylic ink and gesso on toned paper
The Hearts Filthy Lesson Falls Upon Deaf Ears
Today’s 30 in 30 painting is a portrait I wish I didn’t have to do under these conditions. With the passing of David Bowie yesterday, I didn’t really feel up to the challenge of doing artwork based on him. I’m actually surprised I got it done today. I am a fan of Bowie and I have been very much into his music since the mid 1990’s. Like most children of the 80’s, my first recollections of Bowie come from his videos for Let’s Dance, Modern Love, China Girl and of course, his duet with Bing Crosby on Little Drummer Boy. I really liked those songs of the Let’s Dance album but my first purchase of Bowie’s music was the Labyrinth soundtrack. I loved and still love that movie. And that soundtrack is fantastic. Within You is one of my favorite Bowie songs. It is haunting and a little creepy. I hear it and I can close my eyes and see that scene of him singing the song in the movie.
Your Eyes Can Be So Cruel
Just As I Can Be So Cruel
And that is where I stopped when it came to his music. At that point he was off my radar. It wasn’t until 1995 that Bowie’s music made it back to me. The Outside album came out that year. It was like nothing I had ever heard before. A jazz mixed with industrial musical concept album about a serial killer who is committing murders in the name of art and the detective who is trying to catch him. This album came out right as Nine Inch Nails was a huge band and Trent Reznor certainly had an influence on this album. The songs are strange and a bit random and the story is equally strange. But this album completely works for me. And I place it right towards the top of my all time favorite albums by any artist. This was also the time when I was able to see him in concert. The show was amazing and a great time.
We Had Such Wishful Beginnings
But We Live Unbearable Lives
This is my favorite era of Bowie’s career. The music is different and compelling and I thought his look was great. That’s why I chose to do this portrait of him during that time period. I feel like everyone thinks of him in the Ziggy Stardust/Aladdin Sane era and that is far from my favorite visual time of Bowie, for me. This also marks the first time I have done this style of artwork on toned paper. For some reason it felt like the right thing to do. But, like Bowie himself, I feel the need to change my style.
